Skating Season withdrawal help forum

As a disabled "elder" this season was a diversion and uplift. I wondered if others felt same? I thought maybe we could talk about this and also have a thread where we talk about what we can remember fondly. Arguments are ok, just let us be kind to each other. We have all nations and understanding levels here. Or what do you think is coming this year regarding ?

I wonder what happened to Johnny, is he divorced? And is Meryl dating Maks. Big time chemistry there. I love her dancing-a bit more than Charlie, though his hair deserves a ten.

Please post about the exciting junior most of us do not follow. If you have a video of you yourself skating, maybe you could share it. If there is a past performance on youtube that was overlooked in any discipline, share it. ?For those with much technical acumen, please explain the jumps etc. I need slow mo to know if a jump is clean. So past things or future things, the off season is here. Olympics and Worlds were amazing. Now what? Anything goes....

Ok so second post...was anyone blown away by the new to me Machida this season? And tho I wasn't fond of Hanyu's white blouse, I was ok with Machida's firebird. It seemed to suit him. I really think he is a good rival for Hanyu, and takes the edge off missing Dai. He is currently my second fave Japanese male. What is consensus on Machida?

Ok so second post...was anyone blown away by the new to me Machida this season? And tho I wasn't fond of Hanyu's white blouse, I was ok with Machida's firebird. It seemed to suit him. I really think he is a good rival for Hanyu, and takes the edge off missing Dai. He is currently my second fave Japanese male. What is consensus on Machida?

I absolutely fell in love with Machida this season. His Worlds short was definitely world-record-worthy, imo

Ok so second post...was anyone blown away by the new to me Machida this season?

Absolutely! I was at Skate America, when the "New Machida" made his first appearance. I was really only there to see Asada and Takahashi - it was my last chance to see them in competition before (I assumed) they would retire.

I didn't have big expectations for Machida... but he grabbed everyone's attention right from the start. He was On Fire for both the SP and the FS. Very impressive, and the thing that struck me the most was the self-belief written all over his face throughout.

He did not look at all surpised by his scores, or at taking the gold medal. He didn't get over-excited... rather, he was quite calm, like everything was exactly as he expected, exactly as he'd planned. To me, his expression said "I knew I would win. I made it happen"

Then for the rest of the season, he proved that Skate America was no one-off fluke. Very consistent, many well-earned achievements, and unquestionably deserving his place in the Olympic team.

Surely an inspiration to others: proof that you don't have to be a child prodigy, and you can reach "elite status" later in your career.

Ok so second post...was anyone blown away by the new to me Machida this season?

Oh I definitely was and still am! Tatsuki brought it on at exactly the right (Olympic) season, making it for the first time to the Japanese national team. His debut at Worlds must be one of the most successful ever for a first-timer, finishing just a hairline short of first. I feel he could have been scored higher PCS wise last season, but I think the judges will (should) give him his due this coming season.

He is also one of the most cerebral skaters around as he takes time to do research on the concept behind his programs, like the his "East of Eden" SP where he apparently read John Steinbeck's novel. That must be why he skates that program with such passion and conviction.

I just wish he will continue until the next Olympics as apparently he has said per a post in the Tatsuki fanfest thread that he will only compete for the next two seasons and then retire. I certainly hope he changes his mind.